Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-11-28
CHAPTER II.
GEN. mitchell MAKES WAR WITH AsTRo
NoNICAL PRECISION.

En- IL
GEN. Mitchell MAKES WAR WITH AsTRo-
NoNICAL PRECISION.
The proml mess and CELEBRITY Of the
movement by which Gen Mitchell sur
prised the enemy in his front and cleared
the way for still greater enterprises was
hardly. if at all. eqaaled by anything on
the Onion side during the whole contest.
Pouring rain. flooded creeks and bridges
swept away did not delay him a moment
beyond his calculations, though they add
ell enormously to the di.comfoTts Of the
army under his command. Probably his
scientific training was To some extent re
sponsible for his appreciation Of The value
Of minutes. Astronomers are accustomed
to deal with the thousandth part Of a sec
ond and Mitchell, in his backwOods OBJ
seryatory, had invented instruments
which made stellar records with more
precision than any astronomer who had
gone before him. and thus won world
wide fame in this department. He car
ried the same qualities into the army
Leaving Shelbyylle for a forced march
the morning after the Andrews raid had
started on it, peril0us way, and in exact
time to secure the largest results from its
o-operatiOu-for its work was also TO be
done at Il fixed period-he reached the Vi
cinity Of Hunts vile before the enemy had
the slightest intimation Of his approach;
then rou,ing his men at midnight by the
light OF the setting moon, Ae finished his
march in the darkness. and came upon
the sleeping town in the morning twilight,
capturing observation-disclosures. messages.
locomotives, trains and all the supplies Of
the railroad.
Thi. was glorious triumph, but it was
only the first Of the three parts Of which
Mitchell plan consisted, and lac at once
entered Ou the second. Friday April II
the very day on which we had reached
Marketable arranged all affairs con
nected with the railroad management on
new basis, and started two trains loaded
with troops right into the midst Of the
enemy's territory The first went west
ward to possess all the road in that direc-
ton and to opea communication with the
armies of Buell. and Grant then at Pitts
burg landing. which was successfully and
promptly accomplished The other, COM
manded by Mitchell in person, starred
directly eastward How far ii should 90
depended partly on the resistance met, but
still more on the news that might be re
ceived from the Andrews raiders. The
little division Of Mitchell presented on that
clouded Saturday morning Il most active
and imposing spectacle to an eye capable
Of embracing it all. Three different rail
road expeditions were rushing forward in
rebel territory - for ours was also
launched. and the other two, east and
west, were in fail progress--w while his re
endorsements and the regiments which
had been outmarched were closing up on
the central position at Huntsville. When
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